We’ve got two listening delights for you on this channel, folks! 😲 Season 1 is Travel Agent Chatter (TAC), a spotlight interview of a wide variety of travel advisors that we publish every quarter. Season 2 is our shorter, but more frequent Friday 15 series, where every Friday we answer your travel industry questions for — you guessed it — 15 minutes! Travel Agent Chatter -- a Host Agency Reviews audio series -- inspires you with in-depth interviews featuring successful travel agents. We dig into what they do that makes their agencies flourish and how they did it. Transcripts, videos and TAC show notes can be found at https://hostagencyreviews.com/TAC The Friday 15 comes out every Friday at 12pm CT. For 15 minutes over the lunch hour we answer your travel industry questions. Submit your questions at https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 Travel Agent Chatter and the Friday 15 are hosted by HAR's managing director, Shayna Zand and Steph Lee , the founder of the website Host Agency Reviews.
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September 11, 202619 min
Busy vs Productive? Next Trip? Higher-end Trips?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jennifer from Dugan’s Travels. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I feel like I’m busy all the time, but I’m not necessarily making more money. How do I figure out what I should actually be spending my time on? How far in advance should I be talking to clients about their next trip? I feel like I’m always waiting for them to come back to me. How do you sell higher-end trips when you don’t personally travel that way or haven’t stayed at those types of hotels yourself? RESOURCES: Travel Agents, Here’s How to Qualify Clients https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-to-qualify-clients-travel-agent
September 4, 202618 min
Leads? Planning Fees? Training vs Selling?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Carolyn from KHM Travel Group. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I’m still pretty new and don’t have a huge client list yet. What would you focus on first to actually start getting consistent leads? How do you get comfortable charging planning fees when you’re a newer advisor and still feel like you’re learning? How much time should a newer advisor actually be spending on training versus trying to find and sell to clients? I feel like I could take supplier trainings forever! RESOURCES: Travel Leads: Here’s what you need to know . https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-leads https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agents-guide-to-charging-fees (Travel agent guide to charging fees.) Training and education options for travel agents . (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-training-travel-agent-education)
August 28, 202618 min
Follow-ups? Groups? Clients?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Josh from Global Travel Collection. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! How do you follow up with a potential client without feeling like you’re annoying them? How many follow-ups is too many? I’d love to start selling groups, but honestly, they intimidate me. What’s the best way to get started with groups without getting in over my head? And if I want to put together my own group trip, should I get people interested first or actually have the trip planned before I start promoting it? When you’re new, is it better to focus on getting ANY bookings you can, or should you be more selective about the types of clients and trips you take on? RESOURCES: Great article with email templates for typical follow-ups you should be doing - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/5-emails-every-travel-advisor-sends-twice-a-week-and-how-to-stop-retyping-them Travel Leads: Here’s what you need to know . https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-leads
August 21, 202616 min
Net Rates? Facebook Groups? Marketing on Social?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jenn from Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! When advisors quote net rates, where does the markup actually get calculated? The picture I keep getting is a spreadsheet open next to whatever tool built the itinerary, and I'm curious whether that is most people or just the ones who talk about it. I am not sure if this is something you can answer, but I mainly focus on cruises and business has been pretty good lately. I started a Facebook group for a sailing that I am going on and I was wondering if you had any tips for engaging with people in the group without them knowing I am travel agent so it doesn't sound like I am trying to sell them anything. I was thinking after all of my engagement posts and the cruise is complete maybe there is a way to announce that I am an agent and would love to help them book their next trip if they enjoyed my posts. Is that something agents do? I am stuck on what type of posts to make though. I've made some with some tips on the ports we are visiting, but do I need to further? Any help would be appreciated. - Travel Dad Matt How do you face your fear about marketing your travel business on social media if you are an introvert?
August 14, 202622 min
Which host? Start-up? FIT?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Gina from Uniglobe Travel Center. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! While I have years of experience building my own travel plans for business, and leisure, I want to become a travel agent. The number of hosting agencies is overwhelming. Which one do you suggest, and why? - Chris Hi! I've done some domestic travel and love it. I am interested in working as a part-time travel agent. I see start up fees are around $500. Are there any other fees? What all does start up entail? - Christina I keep hearing everyone talk about FIT. So what is it and how does someone specialize in it? - Helen RESOURCES: Host agency directories - https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts 7DS Course - https://hostagencyreviews.com/7-day-setup-accelerator Lawyer List - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-lawyers What does FIT mean in travel? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/fit-travel-meaning
August 7, 202619 min
Larger hosts? BDMs? Time?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Laura from WorldVia Travel Network! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm currently researching host agencies, and one thing I keep coming back to is whether I'll actually get the support I need at a larger host. I love that larger hosts often have more resources and training, but I also worry that I'll just be another number, especially as someone who's still fairly new. How do you make sure advisors feel supported and don't get lost in the crowd as they build their business? As a newer travel advisor, I know building relationships with suppliers and BDMs is important, but honestly, it feels a little intimidating. Sometimes I don't know who I should be reaching out to, what questions I should be asking, or even when it's appropriate to introduce myself. What's the best way for a new advisor to start building those relationships without feeling like they're bothering people? I know everyone says it takes time to build a successful travel business, and I completely understand that it's different for everyone. But it can be hard not to compare myself to other advisors who seem to be doing really well. From your experience, how long does it realistically take for most advisors to build a sustainable business, and what milestones should new advisors expect to hit along the way so they know they're on the right track? RESOURCES: How much do travel agents make? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-much-do-travel-agents-make-travel-agent-salary How much does it cost to become a travel agent or start a travel agency? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-become-travel-agent
July 31, 202617 min
Airfare? Beyond Commission? Expansion?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Amy from KHM Travel! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! With airfare remaining one of the biggest travel expenses, what are some legitimate ways travel advisors can maximize value for their clients? Are there particular consolidators, supplier partnerships, or booking strategies you recommend? If you were building a travel business today focused on Europe, Middle East and Asia, which host agency features would you prioritize beyond commission splits? I am a travel agent (since 2012) and own my own agency (since 2016). I am thinking of bringing on another agent and need to fully understand the differences and implications to both me as well as to the agent between me having this agent as an (a) employee, (b) and independent contractor, or (c) me being a host agency and them being a host agent. RESOURCES: https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter/lary-neron-airfare-consultant (Podcast episode with an advisor who books air only and charges $50-500 fees per ticket.) Great article about top 10 things you should be asking your host /considerations when picking your host - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/ytc-q3-2023 What is a sub agent - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-sub-agent
July 24, 202616 min
Find Clients? Luxury Clients? Habits?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Simon from Global Travel Collection! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I don't have a big network of friends and family to sell to. Where do successful new advisors actually find their first paying clients? How do you attract luxury clients if your current audience isn't necessarily affluent? Is it a marketing challenge, a networking challenge, or something else? What are some habits or routines you've seen your most successful advisors develop that newer advisors could start doing today? RESOURCES: https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/gtn-q2-2023 - becoming a successful luxury advisor
July 17, 202615 min
Mistakes? New Tech? Switching Hosts?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Chelsea Martinez from OASIS Travel Network! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! If I join a host agency today, what are the biggest mistakes you see new advisors make in their first six months that slow down their success and what would you encourage them to focus on instead? There seems to be a new travel technology platform launching every month. How do you evaluate whether a new tool is actually worth adopting versus just another shiny object that could end up costing me time and money? I've heard advisors say that switching host agencies can be difficult. What should I be thinking about before joining my first host so I'm making a decision that's right for me long-term and not just for where I am today? RESOURCES: What to think about when switching host agencies . ( https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/switching-host-agencies-5-things-to-consider ) https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software
July 10, 202621 min
Host v Franchise? Tech? Questions to ask?
This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jenn Lee from TPI and Vacation Planners! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm trying to decide between joining a host agency or a franchise. They both seem to offer training, support, and supplier relationships, so what are the biggest differences that someone new to the industry should really understand before making that decision? How much technology should I expect my host agency to provide versus what I should expect to purchase myself? I'd love to know what's typically included and what's considered part of running my own business. When I look at host agency websites, almost everyone talks about community, training, and support. Beyond those things, what are some questions I should be asking that many new advisors don't think to ask before signing a contract? RESOURCES: https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agency-franchise-or-host-agency https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agency-back-office-front-office-software https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/independent-travel-agent-contracts https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-lawyers
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